Full-time, fixed-term contract for 18 months. (FTE: 1.0) 36.5 hours per week.
This is a call for a postdoctoral research fellow position in the laboratory of Dr. Darius Köster in the Division of Biomedical Sciences at Warwick Medical School. The Köster laboratory research focuses on the interaction between the cell cortex and the plasma membrane, and how these drive shape deformations, membrane organisation and mechano-signalling. This EPSRC funded post aims to study the physics of actomyosin induced membrane shape changes using minimal systems together with lattice light sheet fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis.
The shape and function of cells are highly interconnected and a crucial element controlling cell membrane shape is the underlying actin cortex. Two of the main factors in this process are actin filaments and the molecular motor myosin II. Despite major advances in our understanding on the level of cell biology and the workings of individual proteins making up the actin cytoskeleton, our grasp of how a protein ensemble generates different membrane shapes is limited.
The aim of this project is to use a minimal, biomimetic system consisting of a force generating network of actin filaments and myosin II motors tethered to giant unilamellar vesicles to address long-standing questions experimentally such as:
– How does myosin-driven actin filament organisation lead to local changes of cell membrane shape?
– How does membrane shape promote the associated actin network to change into a specific geometry?
– What is the role binding strength between the actin cortex and the cell membrane?
– How do changes in membrane tension affect acto-myosin driven membrane shape changes?
Using lattice light sheet microscopy, you will follow the dynamics of giant unilamellar vesicles decorated with defined actomyosin networks that will form specific patterns. This system allows full control of the concentration and activity of the individual components leading to different actomyosin network organisations. Computer assisted image analysis methods including deep learning algorithms (with support by Prof. Till Brettschneider) will be used to quantify actin organisation and membrane shapes and to derive the acting forces.
The lab is in the Centre for Mechanochemcial Cell Biology (CMCB) at Warwick, which offers an outstanding environment for discovery science including a state-of-the-art imaging facility , in one of the best universities in the UK.
You will have a good honors degree and a PhD in a relevant field (such as Physics, Biophysics, Biochemistry, Biology). Previous experience in biophysics and/ or biochemistry would be required. Experience in programming, microscopy techniques and computational image analysis would be very helpful, but not essential. Enthusiasm and a demonstrable track record of productive work are essential.
Where you have not yet been awarded your PhD, any offer made to you will be an under-appointment to the post of Research Assistant at a salary of £28,936 per annum. Once your PhD has been awarded and you have evidenced this, you will be appointed to the substantive post of Research Fellow at a salary within the range shown above.
To find out more or arrange an informal conversation about the role, please contact: Dr. Darius Koester ([email protected] ).
Interview Date: 19 July 2023.
Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick’s jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the Apply button.
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